74 replies to this topic

[webgrrl]

Hey everyone,

I love this forum... I lurk a lot (mostly because the company I work for monitors internet usage and will probably think I'm just goofing off if I spend too much time online) (Yes, even though I'm in their Web department... duh )

But - I was wondering - are there other people like me out there in this forum who don't have their own SEO business but have been dubbed the "lead" on "SEO" for the company they work for?

Not that I'm complaining -- I'm loving this challenge -- and the great information that amazing people like Jill and Scottie and their colleagues provide!

So who's out there?

-webgrrl

[leftbrain]

Hi Webgrrl:

I was handed the responsibility for my company's web site (to use the term loosely) about two years ago. Our top management, despite my best efforts, is clueless about the value of the site as I have redesigned it. I'm the SEO "expert" around here because I took it upon myself to learn, and I derive my own satisfaction over seeing my results pay off.

If you are fortunate enough to work for a company that recognizes your efforts, then more power to you. Best of luck in the future.

[qwerty]

I used to be that, along with webmaster, graphic designer (that's a laugh), editor, internal helpdesk, and network administrator. Then I got laid off, and poof! I was a consultant

[webgrrl]

Thanks LeftBrain! So far so good. They like what they see and they are very supportive. I feel like I'm the only one in the world with this job though (except the real experts!).

I am thankful for this opportunity to be able to learn slowly while I don't have to rely on the success of my SEO efforts alone to make ends meet. But doing this on the side I think would be really really cool.

I just wish I had more time to focus on just this.

-w

[Jill]

Actually, Webgrrl, I think we have many here in the same boat as you. I believe DragonLady is, plus I think Deborah. Probably a few more I'm not thinking of at the moment.

Jill

[webgrrl]

No kidding! It's nice to know I'm not *too* alone. I think that people in my position face a unique set of circumstances since we may have to deal with micromanaging superiors, skeptics, people who are jealous that we got to work on this stuff, etc.

Or - here's the real kicker -- our CEO won't let anyone change the company's home page, and it's ALL GRAPHICS. :doh:

Jill/Qwerty et al: Do you ever have clients who forbid you to change an element of their site, even if you make the case that it's crucial for SEO?

-w

[Cygnus]

webgrrl -

It happens ALL THE TIME. When a client refuses to change someone, I just say "you're paying me to be your guide, and your guide says you need to change it. Business is a war; going the wrong way can get you killed. Now, about those changes I suggested..."

It may not work as well for you as an employee, but you get the idea.


Cygnus

[webgrrl]

LOL!!! I wish I could say that!

Hahahhaaaaaaa

[K.S. Katz]

I work for an agency were the customer is always right so I can definitely relate; however, I find that most people's objections come from ignorance of what SEOs do. I would try to compromise with your boss. Offer an embedded FLASH piece with the rest of the page being content oriented.

Just my two

[qwerty]

Do you ever have clients who forbid you to change an element of their site, even if you make the case that it's crucial for SEO?

Sure. And I don't have Jill's reputation (yet ) so sometimes I have to settle for making a site better instead of best.

[Cygnus]

Katz gives a very good, "keep you from getting fired" answer. Just a little background: I have a great relationship with my clients and tend to only work with one client at a time, effectively running their marketing operations. Thus, it doesn't come off as odd as it may have originally sounded.

In a past life I used to sell SEO services for a Scottsdale, AZ SEM agency, but grew a brain and figured that I could do what they did and more, on a more intimate basis for my clients.

Use Katz's response; it's better.

Cygnus

[Scottie]

Hi Webgrrl-

I didn't do SEO for the last company I worked for but I did usability and product development. (We were developing an online CMS system.) We went through 2 SEO experts while I was there.

Prior to that, I worked for a hospital system as an IT manager and one of the "fun" projects was a system-wide intranet. Marketing "owned" the public website and it was pitiful. Didn't do anything, all graphic.

I didn't get interested in SEO myself until I was on my own, trying to boost some small business sites and picked up some clients from my prior firm.

It's much easier when you don't have the decision-by-committee mentality, but especially when working with large entities, you still have the challenge of convincing a diverse group of "owners" of the value of what you are doing.

Try to appeal to the motivator of the individuals. There are 4 motivators: Power, Money, Challenge, Connectedness.

Power- use status-symbol arguments (we'll look so much better than the competition, we'll get industry recognition)
Money- we'll make more/save more money
Challege- this is a cutting edge, forward-thinking strategy. We'll be the first in the industry
Connectedness- we'll be able to reach more people with our message, we'll be better able to stay in touch with our clients/vendors/shareholders

If you can't easily tell the motivation of your audience, hit them with a benefit that touches on each value. It's easy to always frame things with an argument that appeals to you- if you force yourself to think through all 4 you can hit anything they throw at you.

That probably wasn't what you were asking... but hopefully it is useful!

[Cygnus]

Scottie -

Interesting thoughts on the Motivators...have you ever read "How to Master the Art of Selling" or "Persuasion"; they are very much along these lines.


Cygnus

[Scottie]

I haven't, actually. Those are based on the Meiers-Briggs personality indicators and related studies.

[Jill]

Jill/Qwerty et al: Do you ever have clients who forbid you to change an element of their site, even if you make the case that it's crucial for SEO?

For me, it's generally a given that their home page will change, before I ever accept the job. So it's not a problem. I make sure that everything is spelled out very clearly before I'll take their money these days. If they don't want to do things my way, then they take the highway!

But there might be occasions where it would be okay not to change the home page. I haven't actually run across this situation yet...well, wait, let me take that back. I did a site recently where we were only doing a subsection of the site. I had nothing to do with their home page. It was the section where they discussed the business seminars they offer, and it was in a separate directory like this: www.domain.com/seminars.

I did optimize the main seminars page, and then about 9 or 10 specific seminar pages. That worked out fine because the main page of their site was very diversified and didn't focus on the seminars at all.

Jill